Chandigarh 23 March 2015: Film producer Harinder Sikka’s “Nanak Shah Fakir” (2015) movie is caught into a serious controversy for depicting first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Ji; family members of Guru Nanak Ji and the life of Guru Nanak Ji. The movie is yet to be released but it’s tailors confirm that the film is made in violation of Sikh tradition which strictly prohibits depiction of Sikh Gurus in any film/ video or drama etc.

The movie was reportedly screened in “Sikh International Film Festival of Toronto” in October 2014 and surprisingly it went unnoticed at that time. The festival was organized by Sikh Foundation of Canada.

But now many Sikh organizations have reacted sharply against the movie and the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has also “disapproved” the movie.

Chaar Sahibzaade (2014) was first such movie depicting Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and His family members, that was screened in cinemas. Still animation of Guru Gobind Singh ji was used in this movie, while the characters of Sahibzaadas, Mata Gujri Ji, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji and Mata Sundari Ji were played through live animation.

If we look back we find that Chaar Sahibzaade was preceded by other cartoon movies on Sahibzaadas and Sikh Gurus.

“Sahibzaade” (2005) and “Moola Khatri” (2008) were such movies in which characters of Sahibzaadas and Guru Nanak Ji were shown. Alarms were raised by some Sikh organizations against these movies and SGPC and Akal Takht Sahib were urged to take notice of these movies. But, unfortunately, neither SGPC nor the then Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib took any notice of this matter.

Next stage in depiction of Sikh Guru Sahibs was Chaar Sahibzaade. The movie received wider applaud from the global Sikh community. Surprisingly, the film was approved by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) and it was praised by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh.

Sikh intellectual S. Ajmer Singh had raised serious concerns about depiction of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Sahibzaadas and other members of Guru Sahib ji’s family in Chaar Sahibzaade moive.

Participating in Sikh Siyasat’s talk show, S. Ajmer Singh had expressed apprehension that recognition given to the Chaar Sahibzaade movie will open door more such attempts.

Had the panth taken notice of previous attempt, the makers of movies like “Nanak Shah Fakir” might not have headed with depiction of Guru Nank Ji. Even at this stage the Panth should seriously deliberate on this issue and take firm decisions.